"Aren't you afraid, since you live in Dubai? No, because I know who protects us." In recent days, posts like this have become very popular on social networks. After Iran's attacks on Persian Gulf countries, similar content began to be spread by influencers living in Dubai, ARD writes. Their main message is: "It's safe in Dubai, business is going on as normal".
However, one thing is striking: not only are the messages of the many different influencers the same, but also the words, footage and music they use, explains the German public media.
Over 1,000 drones and missiles
Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which fell into the crosshairs of Iran after the attacks by Israel and the US. According to their data, the Emirates were attacked with over 1,000 Iranian drones and missiles. A large part of them were intercepted, but not all, ARD explains.
Among the affected sites is Dubai International Airport. And the luxury hotel Burj al Arab was damaged by debris. According to information from the UAE, three people were killed and 58 were injured as a result of the attacks.
The president wants to instill security
However, many influencers on social networks ignore the damage - they claim that Dubai remains the safest place in the world. The media is accused of spreading panic and showing a false picture of the situation on the ground.
The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is trying to demonstrate that everyday life in the country is going on normally, the German media also writes. For example, a video of the president walking around the luxury shopping center Dubai Mall together with the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, was distributed. The video was shared by many of the influencers living in Dubai, who have millions of followers.
Is this a campaign?
In their comments on the influencers' posts, some users assume that this is a campaign designed to preserve the glossy image of Dubai and the UAE. Katja Munoz, an expert from the German Foreign Policy Society, is of the same opinion. She told ARD: "This thesis is also supported by how quickly influencers from different countries spread posts with somewhat identical content". Apparently, there were channels developed through which influencers could be quickly informed about the desired content.
According to Munoz, the purpose of the posts is to maintain the image that carefree life in Dubai continues despite the attacks.
Over 85 percent have foreign passports
"The danger to Dubai's economic model can hardly be overstated," energy expert Jim Crane told "Reuters.".
The physical damage may be limited, but Dubai's status as a safe haven for foreigners and their businesses is increasingly in doubt. "The longer the war goes on, the more intense the search for alternatives will become," says Crane.
As ARD points out, over 85 percent of Dubai's four million residents have foreign passports. There is no personal income tax in the UAE, which is very attractive for entrepreneurs and influencers. They, in turn, increase Dubai's popularity worldwide. Last year, the emirate was visited by 20 million guests, which is another record, writes the German public media.
Influencers reject the accusations
Many influencers have already categorically denied that they published their posts at the request of the authorities, as well as the allegations that they did not have the right to write the truth about the consequences of the attacks. However, others claim in their publications that they did not have the right to post and that they should have deleted everything. Some write that they were not sure what they could and could not say.
The German "Die Welt" quotes influencers living in Dubai who speak of censorship. Government officials have issued instructions not to portray Dubai in a bad light.
In the UAE, criticism of the government, the authorities and their work is punishable. Anyone who damages the "name, image or dignity" of the emirate can be fined up to 235,000 euros. In addition, the authorities can revoke licenses and block social media channels, German media lawyer Christian Solmeke told ARD. In serious cases, immediate extradition or long-term imprisonment are possible.
The posts can also lead to criminal prosecution
There are also risks for those who share photos or videos of the affected sites on social media. According to the authorities, this also applies to the spread of "rumors" and "information from unknown sources", which can lead to criminal prosecution, ARD explains.
Muñoz told the German public media that it was deliberately left unclear what exactly these formulations include. "I think the goal is always to present things in such a way that it is attractive to live there - after all, it is about the security of the system. But thanks to the wide possibilities for interpreting the posts, action can be taken against those of them that are not wanted." This also leads to a kind of self-censorship - for fear of being caught by the law.
This is also Solmeke's opinion. "This is not a contract that influencers sign that says they have to publish three praiseworthy posts about the country. It is much more of an unspoken deal that functions perfectly as an image-maintaining machine."
Author: Pascal Zigelkov (ARD)